9 LEED Certified Buildings in the Philippines

Firms worldwide are becoming more environmentally aware and responsible. The overall impact of their buildings to people and to the environment is now an important consideration.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) commenced LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in America in 2000 and has become the worldwide criterion for green building certification. The LEED certification on a building is a mark of quality and achievement in green buildings. It provides an independent verification of a building or a neighborhood’s green features, which also evaluates the building’s design, construction, operation, and maintenance of resource–efficient, high-performing, healthy, and cost-effective buildings.

Buildings can qualify for four levels of LEED Certifications: Certified, Silver, Gold,and Platinum in the evaluation of the following areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, indoor environmental quality, and design innovation.

Some Philippine buildings have already achieved LEED Certifications. Below is a partial list:

Photo: Arya Residences

Arya Residences

Lot 4-1, McKinley Parkway, BGC, Taguig City

This two-tower condominium complex was awarded a LEED Gold certification in 2016. Its environment-friendly features include:

This facility’s Gold certification in 2010 came on the heels of the Silver certification obtained by Texas Instruments Philippines’ facility in Baguio in 2009, the first-ever to be awarded to any Philippine building. Some of Texas Instruments Philippines Clark’s green features are:

Reflective roof with a section of vegetative roofing to reduce heat and water runoff

Automated lighting system with sensors to take advantage of daylight

Use of desiccant wheel air cooling system to provide dehumidified cooled air; this system uses water as a refrigerant and is regenerated using waste heat.

More than 96% of the construction waste is recycled

Use of reclaimed water for flushing

LEED BD+C: New Construction v2 – LEED 2.2 | Score: 39/69

Pioneer House CDO

Don Apolinar Velez Street corner Mabini Street, Cagayan de Oro

LEED Platinum certified since 2015, this seven-story building features the following:

Energy-saving elevators

Fuel-saving generators with noise suppressors

Shower facilities for employees/tenants who cycle or walk to work

100% LED lighting

LEED BD+C: Core and Shell v3 – LEED 2009 | Score: 83/110

Bench Tower

30th Street corner Rizal Drive, The Fort, Taguig City

LEED Gold certified since 2016, this building’s green features include:

Low-E double glass wall

LED and CFL lighting

Low-water flushing systems

Green pockets

LEED BD+C: Core and Shell v3 – LEED 2009 | Score: 61/110

Wells Fargo Center (Buildings A, B, C)

Taguig City

LEED Platinum certified since October 2014, these three 5-story buildings have the following noteworthy sustainable features:

45% less water usage than standard buildings by providing water-efficient plumbing fixtures

Exterior landscape does not use potable water for irrigating plants and vegetation

Its wide-glass architecture infiltrates natural light into the building by installing double glazed gas-filled insulated (Low-E) glass, which reflects the sun’s heat away from the building.

Its construction materials contained more than 30 percent recycled content; this building also earned a bonus point by using over 30 percent of locally available materials.

Innovative indoor air quality features, including the provision of CO2 sensors, which ensures fresh air delivery to the building’s occupants

Use of low emitting paints and materials throughout the interior spaces